Flexible stocking-like slipper



1964 w. M. SCHOLL 3,120,711

FLEXIBLE STOCKING-LIKE SLIPPER Filed Jan. 21. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mwm/lma/m/ l fim/ Q 312,75

Feb. 11, 1964 w. M. SCHOLL FLEXIBLE STOCKING-LIKE SLIPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1960 A if v Q Y\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ A; Q\

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FLEXIBLE STOCKING-LIKE SLIPPER Filed Jan 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Eran tar IV/W/am M 80/70 Feb. 11, 1964 w. M. SCHOLL 3,120,711

FLEXIBLE STOCKING-LIKE SLIPPER Filed Jan. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mania? W/W/am M6'C/70// United States Patent 3,120,711 FLEXIBLE STOCKING-LIKE SLIPPER William M. Scholl, 211-213 W. Schiller St., Chicago, Ill. Filed Jan. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 3,817 2 Claims. (Cl. 369) This invention relates to improvements in a flexible foot covering, the invention being directed more particularly to a relatively thin lightweight flexible foot covering of the slipper type that may be worn either within a shoe or without a shoe, for example, as a bedroom slipper or the like, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Devices of the character herein disclosed are more frequently worn by women than men and are particularly adaptable for use as a household slipper and may be worn inside a shoe or other article of footwear, particularly when the user does not desire to wear full size hosiery. Devices of this general character have been heretofore made but have been objectionably expensize to manufacture with the result that sales have been curtailed as a result of high cost. This costliness of manufacture was due to the fabrication of the device from numerous pieces of material involving high labor cost, and in View of the numerous operations, including stitching, gluing, and the like of various parts together consuming an objectionable amount of not only labor but time as well. Also, it may be mentioned that devices of this character as heretofore made were in many cases not satisfactorily durable, could not be slipped into a shoe with sufiicient ease and facility, and in many cases were not so constructed that a single device would intimately fit a desired range of foot sizes.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a slipper type foot covering of flexible material having a cushioning sole attached thereto and which may be manufactured extremely economically.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a flexible foot covering embodying only a fabric slipper with a cushioning sole bonded to the sole portion of the slipper without the use of stitching.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a flexible foot covering that is extremely durable, comprises a minimum number of parts, and which can easily be slipped into and out of an article of footwear.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a flexible foot covering so constructed as to fit a wide range of sizes of feet intimately.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a flexible foot covering comprising a fabric slipper having a cushion sole cured directly to the sole portion of the fabric slipper, and which sole may function as an insole or outsole at the desire of the user.

Also a desideratum of the instant invention is the provision of a flexible foot covering comprising a slipper made of relatively thin stretchable fabric having a cushioning sole of moldable material molded directly against and cured to the sole portion of the fabric slipper and permeating the same to a partial extent.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a flexible foot covering comprises a fabric slip per having a single-piece cushioning insole secured therein and varying in thickness to provide at least one arch supporting elevation in the insole.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a flexible foot covering comprising a fabric slipper with a molded cushioning insole therein, portions of which permeate and extend entirely through the fabric to form a tread on the outer face of the sole portion of the fabric.

3,120,711 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a foot covering embodying principles of the instant invention, showing the same in operative position on a human foot;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the foot covering of FIGURE 1 alone;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IIIIII of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, but showing the foot covering in upright position;

FIGURE 3A is a fragmentary view similar in character to FIGURE 3, but showing the foot covering turned inside out so that the cushion sole functions as an outsole rather than an insole;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a mold utilized in making the foot covering of FIGS. 1 to 3A inclusive;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mold of FIG. 4, with parts broken away and parts shown in vertical section, substantially as indicated by the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a greatly enlarger transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VI-VI of FIGURE 4; illustrating an operation in the method of making the instant invention;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of a mold member to be used with the mold of FIGURES 4 and 5 for the forming of a foot covering embodying principles of the instant invention, but of a slightly different construction;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, but showing the mold member in upright position;

FIGURE 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the character of FIG. 6, illustrating a part of the method of forming a foot covering utilizing the mold member of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIGURE 10 is a bottom plan view of a foot covering made in accordance with the showing of FIG. 9;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a mold member to be substituted for one of the members of the mold of FIG. 5 in the making of a foot covering embodying principles of the instant invention, but of a still different construction;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a foot covering made while utilizing the mold member of FIG. 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary greatly magnified vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12, but showing the foot covering in upright position.

As shown in the drawings:

In the first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a foot covering comprising a fabric slipper generally indicated by numeral 1 which is preferably a single piece of material except for the binding. This slipper comprises an upper 2 and a sole portion 3 integral therewith. The slipper is preferably made of an elastic stretchable fabric, twisted stretchable yarn being satisfactory for this purpose, whereby the slipper will fit any of a range of differently sized feet, the inherent contractile powers of the slipper providing an intimate and comfortable feel. The slipper may quite satisfactorily be made of a relatively thin material which is stocking-like both in appearance and feel.

Any suitable form of binding 4 may be placed around the foot opening in the slipper, and preferably this binding contains an elastic band 5 to insure an intimate and comfortable contact with the upper part of a foot 6, as seen in FIGURE 1, where the slipper is shown in operative position upon the foot. In most cases, it is desirable to have the slipper low cut, as illustrated, so that when the foot with the slipper thereon is placed in a shoe or the like, the slipper itself is substantially invisible.

Attached to the sole portion 3 of the slipper is a cushioning sole 7 which is preferably made of a moldable material, sponge rubber, foam latex, synthetic sponge or foam rubber as well as other materials being satisfactory for this purpose. As will more fully later appear, the material of the sole 7 is preferably cured against and to the sole portion 3 of the slipper. During this operation the material of the cushion sole permeates or impregnates the fabric of the sole portion 3 partially therethrough as indicated at 7a in FIGURES 3 and 3A. This partial permeation leaves the exposed surface of the sole portion 3 in substantially its original condition, that is a relatively smooth fabric surface which makes it easy to slip the foot into a shoe or the like with the slipper on the foot. As clearly seen in FIGURE 3, the cushion sole is preferably much thicker than the fabric of the slipper 1, whereby when the slipper is worn inside a shoe, the sole functions in the same manner as a cushioning insole in that shoe would do.

From the showing in FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the insole 7 preferably has a shape in general conformity with the plantar surface of a human foot, but is symmetrical rather than following the contour of either a left or right foot. This provides a definite advantage, in that the same slipper may be worn with equal facility upon either a left or right foot, and the user need not make any choice when donning a pair of slippers.

It should be noted that the cushion sole 7 may function as an insole or an outsole at the will of the user. It is preferable that the unattached face of the sole 7 be provided with a suitable covering as shown at 8 in FIGS. 3 and 3A. This covering may be of any suitable material such as a tightly woven smooth surfaced fabric, a piece of leather, a piece of plastic material or any other substance that will be satisfactory for the purpose. This covering is smooth surfaced and more durable than the sole portion 3 of the fabric slipper.

Assuming that the user has been wearing the foot covering inside an article of footwear such as a shoe or the like, with the cushion sole 7 functioning as an insole, as seen in FIGURE 3, it is a simple expedient when the device is to be used as a household slipper, to remove the slipper and turn it inside out, put it back on the foot, and the cushion sole 7 will then function as an outsole as shown in FIGURE 3A. As stated above, the covering 8 is more durable than the sole portion 3 of the fabric slipper, and it is preferable to have the covering 8 exposed for contact with the floor when the device is worn as a household slipper. In either position, however, a shoe may be readily slipped on tht foot over the device since either the sole portion 3 or the cover 8 provides a sufiiciently smooth surface for this purpose.

The bonding of the sole 7 to the sole portion 3 of the slipper by curing it directly thereto with the partial permeation not only strengthens the sole portion of the slipper and adds to its durability, but provides a union that will not separate when in use throughout the life of the slipper, and it will be noted that no stitching or direct cementing is resorted to in this construction. Stitching frequently weakens and causes objectionable separation, and cementing frequently results in a stiffer construction.

Further, the union between the sole 7 and the sole portion 3 of the slipper is extremely economical to provide, since it is obtained at the same time the cushion sole is molded. In the manufacture of the foot covering, the fabric slipper 1 is preferably formed first. Thereafter, which reference now to FIGURES 4, and 6, mold members are utilized to provide the cushion sole 7. It will be understood, of course, while the mold members are herein described as arranged in a most convenient position, they may be used in inverted position if so desired.

The mold members include a lower member 9 having an elevated portion 19 thereon which is of the size and shape of the resultant insole. This member 9, for conyenience, may be mounted upon a suitable stand comprising a base 11 and an upright 12, which stand arrangement facilitates handling of the mold. An upper mold member 13, which is generally in the form of a frame, is provided with an opening or aperture 14 therein shaped complementally to and sized slightly larger than the elevation 10 on the lower mold member. It will be noted from the showing in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the upper member 13 is substantially thicker than the elevation 10 so that when the upper member is telescoped over this elevation as seen in FIGURE 5, the opening 14 forms a cavity for the reception of the cushion sole material.

In making the foot covering, the already formed fabric slipper 1 is applied over the lower die member 9 with the sole portion 3 of the slipper resting flatly on top of the elevation 10, as clearly seen in FIGURE 6. The elastic band 5 in the binding of the slipper holds the same in intimate contact with the mold member, and when the frame member 13 is pressed over the lower member with the opening 14 telescoping around the elevation 10 and the fabric slipper thereon, the opening 14 is filled with moldable material in a soft or semi-liquid state as indicated at 15. This material may be smoothed or scraped off so that it fills the opening 14 even with the upper face of the member 13. This material will permeate the fabric sole portion 3 to a partial extent, but will not pass entirely through the sole portion because it is firmly backed by the upper face of the elevation 10. The mold is then subjected to a temperature sufitcient to cure the material 15 and it is bonded to the fabric sole portion 3 at the same time. After curing, the mold members are separated, and the fabric slipper with the cushion sole attached is removed. The cover 8 is preferably precut and laid over the material 15 prior to the curing of the material so that this cover is also bonded securely to the material by the curing operation. However, if so desired, the cover could be attached to the cushion sole after curing by means of a light cement or in any other equivalent manner. It is at once apparent that the method of making the foot covering is extremely simple and economical, resulting in a highly durable product.

In FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 I have illustrated apparatus for the forming of an insole having one or more arch supporting elevations thereon, these elevations being molded into the insole at the same time the insole is formed substantially in the manner previously described. Referring again to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the frame member 13 is provided with a plurality of indentations 16 therein adjacent the corners of the frame. Now, going back to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that a third mold member 17 is utilized when elevations are desired on the insole. This mold member 17 is provided with corner portions having projections 18 thereon complemental to the indentations 16 in the frame member 13, so that the mold member 17 may be placed upon and properly centered with respect to the frame member 13.

The mold member 17, in the illustrated instance, is provided with a recess 19 defined by an outstanding knifeedged rib 20 shaped oomplementally to the opening 14 in the frame member 13, but of slightly less size so as to fit 'within that opening. The member 17, in the illustrated instance, is provided with a depression 21 in the cavity to mold a metatarsal arch elevation there, and a depression 22 to mold a longitudinal arch supporting elevation.

In the making of this form of the invention, the mold members 9 and .13 are assembled as previously described, with the fabric slipper reversed or turned inside out and disposed over the mold member 9. A mass of cushioning material of a predetermined amount is then placed within the opening 14 of the frame member 13 and left piled up in the intermediate region of the frame member, rather than be scraped off as in the previous case. If so desired, this insole may be covered on its upper or foot contacting face with a smooth covering, and to this end a separate piece 24 of fabric, plastic film, or any other suitable covering material may be placed inside the cavity or recess 19 of the mold member 17 as a liner. The mold member 17 is then placed over the frame member 13 with the projections 18 seating in the depressions 16, and with the ridge 2% telescoped inside the opening 14 of the frame member 13 and pressed firmly into place to cause the excess insole forming material to be pressed int-o the depressions 21 and 22 of the member 17. Upon curing, a finished insole 25 results having a longitudinal arch supporting elevation 26 as well as a metatarsal arch supporting elevation 27, as indicated in FIGURES 9 and 10. The insole is cured directly to both the sole portion 3 of the fabric slipper and to the inside cover 24, and after curing the slipper is removed from the mold member 9 and turned inside out. Of course, the slipper may be reversed by the user and the insole worn as an outsole, but the elevations may not be as effective in this position.

Of course, if desired, a covering over the insole so that the naked foot of the user need not contact the cushioning material of the insole directly, may be provided in similar manner with any of the forms of the invention shown and described herein.

In the event the resultant foot covering will be worn mainly as a bedroom slipper, or the like, and very seldom worn within a shoe or similar article of footwear, with a cushion insole, it is desirable to further add to the durability and strength of the foot covering by providing a tread on the undersurface of the sole portion 3 of the fabric slipper. Such a tread would also tend to eliminate slipping. This may be accomplished by permitting the insole material to bleed or pass entirely through the fabric sole portion 3, and it is better to control that bleeding rather than let it be indiscriminate. Such bleeding may be controlled by virtue of utilizing a relatively coarse weave fabric, by the amount of stretch of the fabric when placed over the mold member 9, and by virtue of the solidity of the backing underneath the sole portion of the slipper. A better method, however, results in supporting the sole portion at spaced locations and permitting bleeding through to occur between those locations or, in the unsupported regions. In that manner, a predetermined pattern for the tread may be acquired.

To that end, a slightly different form of lower mold member 9a is provided having an elevation a thereon, as seen in FIGURE 11, this mold member being so far in full accord with the mold member 9 previously described. In this instance, however, the face of the elevation .10 is provided with deformations thereover with any desired pattern, and in the illustrated instance, which is by way of example only, the pattern takes the form of crisscrossing grooves 28 which may be over the entire surface of the member or located in spaced zones as desired. With the use of the criss-crossing groove pattern, there will be pyramidal indentations between the ridges of the grooves, and when the mold member is put to use as above described, the sole portion 3 of the fabric slipper will be definitely supported beneath the mass of insole material only on the ridges between the grooves. In this instance, therefore, the applied mass of material Will penmeate through the fabric sole portion and pass entirely through and beyond the fabric where the same is not sup- 6 ported. After curing of the insole mass, the resultant foot covering will have a tread comprising a myriad of pyramidal projections 29, as seen in FIGURE 12, and as shown magnified in HGURE 13. The projections 29 will be totally outside the fabric sole portion 3- of the slipper, but nevertheless integral with the cushion insole 3h inside the slipper. This device provides better walking qualities when utilized outside of a shoe, and could be worn inside a shoe if desired, but it would'be more difficult to place the "toot with the device thereon in the shoe than with the previously described embodiments of the invention.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a new and highly economical, yet durable, foot covering of the flexible slipper type.

it will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. A flexible foot covering comprising a slipper of flexible porous material, and

a relatively thick sole of foam cushioning material, said flexible porous material of said slipper having a sole portion thereof extending directly into said sole in interlocking relationship therewith to eliminate the need for a cementitious bond or the like between the slipper and sole, and said foam cushioning material of said sole itself extending at least partially into the pores of said sole portion of said flexible porous material to provide said interlocking relationship between said sole and sole portion of said slipper, said slipper having an upper portion extending generally at right angles to said sole portion and in spaced relatively movable relation to said sole for engaging with the side portions of a human foot inserted into said slipper. 2. A flexible foot covering comprising a slipper of flexible porous material, and

a relatively thick sole of foam cushioning material, said flexible porous material of said slipper having a sole portion thereof extending directly into said sole in interlocking relationship therewith to eliminate the need for a cementitious bond or the like between the slipper and sole, and said foam cushioning material of said sole itself extending at least partially into the pores of said sole portion of said flexible porous material to provide said interlocking relationship between said sole and sole portion of said slipper, said slipper having an upper portion extending generally at right angles to said sole portion and in spaced relatively movable relation to said sole for engaging with the side portions of a human foot inserted into said slipper, said tfioam cushioning material of said sole extending entirely through said sole portion of said slipper to provide a tread beneath said sole portion of said slipper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,167,035 Westheimer July 25, 1939 2,344,773 Herbert Mar. 21, 1944 2,483,016 Lussier Sept. 27, 1949 2,538,673 Donahue Jan. 16, -1 2,649,391 Aldenfer Aug. 18, 1953 2,663,097 Giese Dec. 22, 1953 2,77 1,691 Luchs Nov. 27, 1956 2,798,311 Scholl July 9, 1957 

1. A FLEXIBLE FOOT COVERING COMPRISING A SLIPPER OF FLEXIBLE POROUS MATERIAL, AND A RELATIVELY THICK SOLE OF FOAM CUSHIONING MATERIAL, SAID FLEXIBLE POROUS MATERIAL OF SAID SLIPPER HAVING A SOLE PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING DIRECTLY INTO SAID SOLE IN INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A CEMENTITIOUS BOND OR THE LIKE BETWEEN THE SLIPPER AND SOLE, AND SAID FOAM CUSHIONING MATERIAL OF SAID SOLE ITSELF EXTENDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY INTO THE PORES OF SAID SOLE PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE POROUS MATERIAL TO PROVIDE SAID INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID SOLE AND SOLE PORTION OF SAID SLIPPER, SAID SLIPPER HAVING AN UPPER PORTION EXTENDING GENERALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SOLE PORTION AND IN SPACED RELATIVELY MOVABLE RELATION TO SAID SOLE FOR ENGAGING WITH THE SIDE PORTIONS OF A HUMAN FOOT INSERTED INTO SAID SLIPPER. 